“You’ve already kidnapped me so why should I believe anything you have to say?”
He nodded as if accepting what I said, but the burn in the back of his eyes remained liquid fire.
Maybe the rush of adrenaline was wearing off or maybe the sense of fight or flight had kicked in. Whatever the case, as soon as the driver pulled up to a traffic light, I acted out of fear instead of common sense.
My fingers were wrapped around the handle of the door, forcing it open before I knew what I was doing.
With speed and strength reserved for someone highly trained, he had his hand wrapped around my throat while leaning overand slamming the door in a split second. Shock tore through me initially from another wave of terror then with a crackle of electricity that threw me.
Leaning in, his face was suddenly only a couple of inches from mine, so close I gathered the whiff of some mint he’d had while sitting in the courtroom. With his nostrils flared, he squeezed until there was enough pressure I was forced to realize he could easily do anything he wanted with me.
His silence was just as threatening as if he had done so verbally.
“I thought you were going to be a good girl.”
“I lied.”
When he remained where he was, I was certain he was going to kiss me. A twisted part of me wished he would. Where had that come from? He finally released his hold, but not before allowing me to bask in his hostility. Yet not toward me. He was furious with being caught off guard.
Only when he’d eased back against the leather seat did I manage to take a deep breath.
“Don’t try that again, Catherine, or I will be forced to punish you.” His expression turned me to stone.
His words dripped of innuendoes, not violence. In response, my pussy began to throb. I hated my body’s reaction, the betrayal very unlike me. The silence continued, another form of punishment. Even the man driving the vehicle refrained from saying a single word. He was as impeccably dressed as Alexander as if they were nothing but upstanding citizens going about their day-to-day business.
Instead of falling into the labyrinth of unwanted desire, I forced images of the horrible murder into my mind. The horrific, very vivid photographs were something I wouldn’t soon forget and I’d prosecuted at least two dozen heinous murders in my career. Was this man capable of such abhorrent violence?
Images of his damaged knuckles were never far from my mind, especially since they were just as bruised as before. What did he do, beat his enemies before killing them? I closed my eyes briefly, trying to shove aside the terror so I could think clearly.
My thoughts drifted to envisioning him taking me to some warehouse in the worst part of town where no one could find me.
The driver made a series of turns and I quickly realized my assumptions had been without merit. Strangely enough, we were headed into the most expensive neighborhood in New Orleans. Audubon was a location where only the wealthiest need apply for a mortgage. Every house was a mansion, some nearly as old as the city itself and all were gorgeous in detail and design.
Alexander’s chuckle brought another pang of angst. “What were you expecting, Catherine? That I had plans on keeping you locked in a crate or perhaps in an abandoned building owned by me or my family?”
Did the bastard honestly think I was going to answer him?
“You’re not my prisoner. At least not yet.” Everything about him oozed power and dominance, including his deep, husky voice. While nothing about him screamed rough around the edges, I sensed deep inside he was a caged lion ready to stalk his prey.
The emotional pull of the afternoon and the terrible experience was starting to get to me. A knot had formed in my stomach and I felt wetness on my cheeks from a few fallen tears. Beingemotional in this way was very unlike me. The last thing I wanted to do was to show weakness in front of a man like Alexander Prince.
He was suddenly close once again, far too close. Even though I shrank back, involuntarily pressing my hand against his chest, that didn’t stop him. He curled his knuckles, tenderly wiping away my tears. There was tremendous frustration on his face. I sensed he was doing everything he could to keep some unwritten resolve. Whatever the chemistry we shared was, he wasn’t used to experiencing it. Or maybe it was the way I pushed back at him. The man was even more arrogant than I’d first believed, acting as if he owned everything he touched.
“There’s no need to cry, sweet angel. I’m not the man you think I am.”
I wasn’t given an opportunity to fully form an ugly retort before the driver pulled in through a set of stone columns, heading down a long driveway. Magnolia trees flanked both sides of the ornate aggregate, thick foliage behind providing a sense of privacy.
With a scowl on his face from my lack of reaction, he returned to his side of the SUV, his body tenser than before. The uneasiness increased as the vehicle was brought to a halt. I peered out the window at the massive house. It was incredible, something out of a magazine depicting the finest Southern mansions. With huge columns, a stone walkway, and blooming shrubs creatively softening the features, I was impressed how stunning the layout was.
There were also other vehicles parked as if in formation off to the side. Since they weren’t parked in the five-bay garage, I doubted any belonged to him. Then again, he was a man of mystery; thatlittle I’d learned in such a short time barely acknowledging his complexity.
Yes, I’d easily learned he was rich and powerful, also highly respected in several industries. He had no previous record, although he’d been arrested at eighteen for basic vandalism, then again at thirty for another murder. In both cases, the charges had been dropped. That told me his family had friends in high places. Something else I couldn’t stand.
What the black and white information hadn’t scratched the surface on was his intelligence and cunning. Both were highly attractive, almost as much as the debonair package that came easily to him.
Alexander was already out onto the pavement, walking behind the SUV to my door. I remained where I was when he opened it. Did he really think I was going to give in so easily?
His hand suddenly appeared, beckoning me with his fingers. “Come out, Catherine. You’ll find it much more comfortable inside my home.”
